Iran waits for sanctions move
IRANIAN President Hassan Rouhani has said his country is prepared to take steps to live up to measures agreed in the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers – as soon as the United States lifts economic sanctions.
In a meeting with Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, Mr Rouhani said: “Iran is ready to immediately take compensatory measures based on the nuclear deal and fulfil its commitments just after the US illegal sanctions are lifted and it abandons its policy of threats and pressure.”
The Iranian leader criticised the European signatories of the historic nuclear deal for what he said was their inaction on their commitments to the agreement. He said Iran is the only country that kept its side of the bargain.
In 2018, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the Iranian nuclear accord, in which Tehran had agreed to limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The US then re-imposed some sanctions and added others.
The Republic of Ireland has the role of facilitator in the implementation of the nuclear deal. Mr Coveney said the withdrawal by former president Mr Trump was a mistake, and noted that the new US administration is determined to return to the deal.
Stevie Goulding, the parents’ helpline manager at children’s mental health charity Young Minds, explains why a return to classroom education is vital for young people’s mental health…
“School is about much more than academic performance. It provides routine, a safe space where young people can talk to adults they trust and a place to be with friends face-to-face.
“Young people tell us that they’ve struggled to cope with the changes and loss of coping mechanisms brought on by the pandemic, with many experiencing anxiety and fears around their future.
“Evidence also suggests that vulnerable young people are likely to be particularly affected. It’s crucial that as schools reopen more widely to pupils, there is space for young people to talk about how they’re feeling, and not simply a rush to catch up on the curriculum.
“Children who are struggling with their mental health will benefit from face-to-face support from teachers, school counsellors, school nurses and other staff. Let them know it’s normal to feel a mixture of emotions, that everyone will be in the same boat – and that the current situation won’t last for ever.”